FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2007
Michael D. Credo
United States Marshal
Eastern District of Louisiana |
CONTACT:
Brian Fair
Deputy U.S. Marshal
Public Information Officer
(504)589-2145 |
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U.S. MARSHALS TASK FORCE AND NEW
ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH U.S. MARSHALS GULF COAST
REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE TO ARREST NEW ORLEANS HOME INVASION
MURDER SUSPECT IN MISSISSIPPI |
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On the afternoon of October 31, 2007,
the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force
arrested Anthony J. MARTIN (AKA: Corey Damond), 27 years old, in
Bassfield, Mississippi. MARTIN was wanted on a warrant issued in
Orleans Parish charging him with murder, five counts of attempted
murder, and six counts of aggravated burglary. The arrest occurred
without incident but MARTIN denied his identity at first by stating
that he was Corey Damond. Upon further questioning by investigators
he admitted to being Anthony MARTIN. The Mississippi Bureau of
Investigations and the Bassfield, MS Police Department also
participated in the arrest.
The murder occurred on the night of Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at a
residence in the 4800 block of Knighthart St., New Orleans, LA. New
Orleans Police Department detectives determined that three male
suspects burst through the door of a residence on Knighthart St. The
suspects then forced six Hispanic males to lay on the ground in the
residence. The suspects then began to search the victims at which
point several of the victims began to resist. The suspects began
firing weapons and fatally wounded Julio Benitez-Cruz, 42 years old.
Two of the other victims were wounded and had to be transported to a
local hospital. Investigators believe that the motive of the home
invasion was robbery. Recently there have been several similar
incidents in New Orleans East but investigator are still trying to
determine if they are related.
The New Orleans Police Department is a participating member of the
U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) Crescent
Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF). Investigators from the New Orleans
Police Department referred the case to the CSFTF. The Task Force
through the course of its local investigation developed leads in
Mississippi and contacted the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task
Force to assist in locating MARTIN and making the arrest.
Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Marshal Michael Credo stated,
“Our task force is excited about being part of efforts in the New
Orleans metro area to reduce violent crime. The partnering of state
and local law enforcement resources combined with U.S. Marshals
Service regional fugitive task forces are working to apprehend these
violent fugitives that travel across state lines to avoid arrest.”
CSFTF is in its eighth year of existence and it is through the
support of New Orleans metro area law enforcement agencies that it
has arrested over 6000 fugitives. The U.S. Department of Justice has
also committed additional resources to the task force since
Hurricane Katrina. Current members include the New Orleans Police
Department, Bogalusa Police Department, the Orleans Parish Criminal
Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson
Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office,
Louisiana Probation and Parole, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border, Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard
Investigative Services, and Social Security OIG.
For more
information on the U.S. Marshals EDLA CSFTF
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